Science - Edexcel

1 Your guide to Pearson Edexcel International GCSE (9 1). Science Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Human Biology, Science (Double Award) and Science (Single Award). First teaching September 2017. Welcome Our new suite of Pearson Edexcel International GCSE (9 1) qualifications has been refreshed to meet the needs of you and your students, to keep the content up-to-date and relevant. Designed to understand today's global learner, respect local contexts and ensure a global standard, they the suite has developed to align with UK. government intentions to raise standards. This guide has been designed provide you with in-depth information about the key features of the new Pearson Edexcel International GCSE (9 1) Sciences: Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Human Biology, Science (Double Award) and Science (Single Award). Before we go into detail about the sciences, we wanted to give you an overview of what the overall changes to the Pearson Edexcel International GCSE (9 1) suite of qualifications are.

2 2. Why choose Pearson Edexcel International GCSE (9 1)? With over million students, in 97 countries, studying Pearson qualifications worldwide, we offer internationally recognised qualifications to schools, colleges and employers globally. We are also the UK's largest academic and vocational Awarding Organisation. Our new suite of International GCSE (9 1) qualifications is designed to: Be more relevant for Reward outstanding academic Contain embedded international students achievement transferable skills With more international By introducing a new 9 1 grading Developing skills such as content, including the addition scale, with the new grade 9 problem-solving and verbal of further international representing a new level of reasoning, skills that are content topics and the use of attainment, you can differentiate valued by universities and local contexts where possible. your top performing students. employers, supporting There's also greater differentiation students to seamlessly in the middle of the scale, with progress to higher-level three grades (6, 5, and 4) rather study.

3 Than two grades (B and C). Provide detailed exam Offer a wider range of teaching Support progression analysis with ResultsPlus and learning materials, to further study resources ResultsPlus is a service unique Developed with the help and training to Pearson that provides free of teachers and higher- online in-depth mock and This support includes schemes education representatives, actual exam performance of work, Getting Started guides, they provide seamless analysis, supporting teachers exemplar materials, ExamWizard, progression to further to plan improvements in comprehensive textbooks and study, including A levels teaching and learning , driving interactive resources, digital and beyond. attainment. services and tailored teacher training. 3. Why choose Pearson Edexcel International GCSE (9 1) Science qualifications? Separate: We listened to feedback from all Biology, Chemistry, Physics parts of the international school 3 grades; 1 for each Science community, including a large number subject taken of teachers.

4 The changes we've made to all Science specifications Human Biology will engage students and give them 1 grade skills that will support progression to further study of Science and a Double Award wide range of other subjects. 2 grades; 2/3rds of each separate Science Single Award (new). 1 grade; half of the double award 4. Clear and straightforward Broaden and deepen question papers students' skills Our question papers are clear and provide sufficient We have designed the Pearson Edexcel challenge and support for students of all ability International GCSEs (9 1) Science specifications ranges. Our mark schemes are straightforward so that to extend students' knowledge by broadening and the assessment requirements are clear. deepening key skills, for example: l I mproving students' analytical and logic skills by applying understanding of scientific concepts Reward outstanding academic and principles to a range of situations. This will include some examination questions that are achievement more problem-solving in style.

5 To ensure that we fully align with UK government l A. ddressing the need for mathematical skills intentions to raise standards, and that international to complement students' Science skills by students have the same opportunity to be rewarded covering a range of mathematical areas. for outstanding academic achievement, our new qualifications use a new 9 1 grading scale, instead of l D. eveloping students' practical skills by the A* G grading scale that you are used to. including a number of practicals in the specification content. These can be The new grade 9 represents a new level of l . supplemented with other suggested practicals. attainment and has been introduced to differentiate The skills developed will be assessed through your top performing students. questions in written examinations. The bottom of the grade 7 broadly aligns with the l . bottom of the grade A. There is also greater differentiation in the middle of l.

6 Support progression to the scale with three new grades (6, 5 and 4) rather A Level than two grades (B and C). Our qualifications enable successful progression to The bottom of the grade 4 broadly aligns with the l . International Advanced Level (IAL) or GCE A Level bottom of the grade C. and beyond. Through our world class qualification The bottom of the grade 1 broadly aligns with the l development process, we have consulted with IAL. bottom of the grade G. and GCE A Level teachers, as well as university professors, to validate the appropriateness of this qualification including the content, skills and assessment structure. Comparable At Pearson Edexcel , we provide a variety of to GCSE. International GCSE (9 1) Science qualifications, We have designed our Pearson Edexcel International including: Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Human GCSE (9 1) Science qualifications to be of a broad Biology, Science (Double Award) and Science equivalent standard to Pearson's regulated Edexcel (Single Award).

7 Each specification has been GCSE qualifications. This ensures that Pearson Edexcel designed to meet different learner and school International GCSEs (9 1) are recognised globally and needs. provide learners with the same progression routes. 5. Why choose Pearson Edexcel International GCSE (9 1) Biology? continuity l from current specification to the new specification: Similar to the popular current specification (4BI0). 100%. l written examination: No practical coursework. At a glance: New Pearson Edexcel International GCSE (9 1) in Biology Paper 1: Biology Paper 2: Biology 2-hour written examination 1-hour and 15-minute written examination The total number of marks is 110, The total number of marks is 70, of the total International GCSE. of the total International GCSE. Content summary Content summary Assesses core content that is NOT in bold and does not Assesses all the content including content that is in bold have a B' prefix.

8 Questions may come from any topic area and has a B' prefix. across the specification. Questions may come from any topic area across the 1. The nature and variety of living organisms specification. Bold statements cover some sub-topics in 2. Structures and functions in living organisms greater depth. 3. Reproduction and inheritance 4. Ecology and the environment 5. Use of biological resources A mixture of different question styles, including multiple-choice questions, short-answer questions, calculations and extended open-response questions. A calculator may be used in the examinations. 6. Why choose Pearson Edexcel International GCSE (9 1) Chemistry? continuity l from current specification to the new specification: Similar to the popular current specification (4CH0). 100%. l written examination: No practical coursework. At a glance: New Pearson Edexcel International GCSE (9 1) in Chemistry Paper 1: Chemistry Paper 2: Chemistry 2-hour written examination 1-hour and 15-minute written examination The total number of marks is 110, The total number of marks is 70, of the total International GCSE.

9 Of the total International GCSE. Content summary Content summary Assesses core content that is NOT in bold and does not Assesses all the content including content that is in bold have a C' prefix. Questions may come from any topic area and has a C' prefix. across the specification. Questions may come from any topic area across the 1. Principles of chemistry specification. Bold statements cover some sub-topics in 2. Inorganic chemistry greater depth. 3. Physical chemistry 4. Organic chemistry A mixture of different question styles, including multiple-choice questions, short-answer questions, calculations and extended open-response questions. A calculator may be used in the examinations. 7. Why choose Pearson Edexcel International GCSE (9 1) Physics? continuity l from current specification to the new specification and an innovative new Astrophysics topic: Similar to the popular current specification (4PH0); plus includes a new Astrophysics section.

10 100%. l written examination: No practical coursework. At a glance: New Pearson Edexcel International GCSE (9 1) in Physics Paper 1: Physics Paper 2: Physics 2-hour written examination 1-hour and 15-minute written examination The total number of marks is 110, The total number of marks is 70, of the total International GCSE. of the total International GCSE. Content summary Content summary Assesses core content that is NOT in bold and does not Assesses all the content including content that is in bold have a P' prefix. Questions may come from any topic area and has a P' prefix. across the specification. Questions may come from any topic area across the 1. Forces and motion specification. Bold statements cover some sub-topics in 2. Electricity greater depth. 3. Waves 4. Energy resources and energy transfer 5. Solids, liquids and gases 6. Magnetism and electromagnetism 7. Radioactivity and particles 8. Astrophysics A mixture of different question styles, including multiple-choice questions, The changes to Physics puts many things on a short-answer questions, surer theoretical basis and prepares students better for material they will come across at A.